We should never question who Pittsburgh’s authorities are. But
when speaking of issues that concern the community of South Oakland,
there is a discrepancy in authority. It seems that Pitt and UPMC have
taken control of matters in South Oakland while the mayor and the Pittsburgh
City Council stand idly by, allowing Pitt and UPMC to do things that
should be brought into question.

I will give six brief instances of the
City Council’s and the mayor’s indifference regarding Pitt’s
and UPMC’s doings in South Oakland. The City Council and the mayor
have:

2) Refused to investigate Pitt’s illegal Homecoming
Week fireworks display that took place in 2009 and threatened the health
and well-being of the residents of the Oakland community.

3) Refused
to support the community in ending this dangerous fireworks display,
which originates in the heart of our community.

4) Refused to conduct
a thorough investigation of the illegal dumping of materials in our
community resulting from Pitt’s dormitory expansion project.

5) Refused to
strongly support residents in their attempts to obtain funding from
Pitt and UPMC for an environmental program that would end the litter
and trash problems that are caused and exacerbated mainly by Pitt’s
student population.

6) Refused to voice their beliefs regarding a Community’s
Bill of Rights that focuses on the many injustices caused by Pitt and
UPMC.

If the priorities of the City Council and the mayor include allowing
unlimited expansion by Pitt and UPMC and earning money at the expense
of the people of South Oakland, then this seeming alliance between
Pittsburgh’s
representatives and the university will, unfortunately, continue the
injustices.

But if the priorities of the City Council and the mayor include
the dignity and welfare of the people of South Oakland, then it is time
for self-examination and change. It is time to put an end to the domination
of Pitt and UPMC.

Our community continues to hope for this change, as
we have been doing for longer than is ethical. We have taken many actions
to end this domination. It is now time for the members of this Council
and the mayor to do the same. It is now time to change the course of
history for the community of South Oakland.